X-ray film package



March 27, 1934. J, A, sAFFlR x-RAY FILM PACKAGE Filed OCT.. 24, 1931Patented Mar. 27, 1934 X-RAY FILM PACKAGE Jacob A. Saffir, Rockford,Ill.

Application October 24,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the packing of X-ray ilms and moreparticularly of such films as are adapted for dental work, and comprisesa waferlike package adapted to be readily inserted into the mouth fortaking pictures of the teeth and adjacent parts.

It is desirable to provide a lm package which will permit the developingof a standard nlm by the use of standard reagents without removing thefilm from the package, thus obviating the necessity of a dark room, darkboa, or the like. I have tried to develop a standard dental X-ray filmin a standard package Without removing the same from the package, bydropping the wrapped iilm into a tray containing the developing solutionand then transferring it to the fixing solution in the same marmer asX-ray films, unwrapped, are generally developed. I have found that thisprocedure is quite unsatisfactory. The solution reaches some parts ofthe film appreciably before it reaches other parts, resulting in anoverdevelopment of some parts of the nlm and an underdevelopment ofother parts. The wrapper also tends to adhere to parts of the nlmproducing spots or undeveloped blotches.

I am aware that attempts have heretofore been made to provide an X-raynlm package wherein the nlm could be developed without removal from thepackage. In order to overcome the above noted diiiiculties, and others,it has been proposed to support the iilrn in the package in spacedrelationship to the top and bottom of the package, the spacing to besuch as to preclude all possibility of contact between the iilm and thetop or bottom of the package. Because of the spacing, the package isnecessarily of appreciable thickness and cannot be used in dental workWhere the package must be of a wafer-like form in order to permitinsertion into the mouth. There are also other objections to the use ofa thick package due to distortions that are produced in the picture.

It is an object of thepresent invention to provide an X-ray lm packageor wrapping which may be made in a wafer-like form as standard dentaliilms are now Wrapped, and yet may be developed Without unwrapping, thusobviating the need of a dark room, dark box, or the like. I overcome thedifficulties heretofore met in attempting such developing by providing anovel wrapper for the lm. I have discovered that if the nlm wrapper isof moisture absorbing material, such as lter paper, blotting paper orthe like, there will be a uniform distribution of the developingsolution over the nlm when the pack- 1931, Serial No. 570,841

age is immersed in the solution. A similar distribution of the liquidwill take place when the developed im is immersed in the fixingsolution. I have found that a Wrapping of ordinary filter paper is quitesuitable for this purpose. It is however to be understood that theinvention is not limited to the use oi lter paper for this purpose sinceI may use any substance having the property of absorbing moisture in thesame sense that a blotter will absorb moisture.

It is desirable to space the ends of the lter paper from the film. Thisspacing is very slight and may be obtained by interposing a frame ofthin pasteboard or the like between the iilm and the wrapper. Instead ofusing a pasteboard frame the lead ioil backing usually present in X-rayiilrn packages may be used. For this purpose a somewhat larger backingis used and the ends of the foil are bent over the top of the iilm forabout one-eighth' of an inch. Any other 75 means may be used to securethis small spacing.

The outside of the Wrapped iilm package is provided with an additionalwrapping of Waterprooiing material to keep the inner contents dry whenthe nlm is inserted into the mouth for taking oi an X-ray picture. Thisouter` Wrapper is removed before the film package is immersed in thedeveloping solution. At this time the inner Wrapping protects the iilmfrom light, hence this operation may be done in open daylight.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present inventionwill be apparent trom the following specification taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of my film package, with the parts inpartially disassembled position;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the package with thewrappings thereof eX- panded transversely to illustrate the manner inwhich the package is wrapped;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modif-led form of 100 package;

Figure 4 is a view showing the manner of Wrapping the package;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a later stage in thewrapping process;

Figure 5 is a plan view ci a rectangular pasteboard frame that is used;and

Figure 'i shows a modified arrangement intended to dispense With theframe shown in Figure 6.

sii

A detail description of my improved X-ray film package will now begiven. The X-ray film is indicated at 1 and is provided with a backing 2of suitable metal foil, such as lead or the like, as in the usual X-rayfilm package. A narrow rectangular frame 3 is placed on the sensitiveside of the film 1 in order to provide a slight spacing between theWrapper, to be hereinafter described, and the film at the edges of thefilm. The frame 3 is preferably of thick filter paper, although it maybe of other material, for instance pasteboard or the like. The film withits metal foil backing 2 and its frame 3 is then Wrapped in a piece ofpaper 4, the edges of the paper being folded over the back of the foil2. The paper Wrapping 4 that is selected for this purpose is of the typethat readily absorbs water. For this purpose blotting paper or ordinaryfilter paper may be used. This wrapping produces a waferlike package ofa size such as to permit its convenient insertion into the mouth for themaking of X-ray pictures of the teeth or the like. In order to preventmoistening of the paper 4 by the moisture present in the mouth I providean outer wrapping 5 of suitable moisture proof material. If the wrapping4 is made of black paper and is light proof, then the outer wrapping 5may be made of transparent material. Otherwise the wrapping 5 may berelied upon to exclude the light from the film although the firstmentioned arrangement is preferable.

Io wrap the film in this package the frame 3 is placed upon the sheet ofpaper 4, substantially centrally thereof, and the film placed upon theframe 3 with its sensitive side against the frame. The backing of foilis then placed over the film and thereafter the corners of the sheet 4are folded over the back of the foil and then the longitudinal andlateral sides are folded over, all as illustrated in Figure 4. Thefolded edges are on the back of the film and they are held in place by asticker l() of paper or the like. This package is then placed upon thesheet 5. The corners of this sheet are then folded over the back of thepackage along the dotted lines indicated in Figure 5 and thereafter thelongitudinal and lateral sides are folded over and the entire foldedsheet secured in place by means of a sticker 11 of paper or the like.The sheet 5 is preferably made of cellophane, although other waterproofmaterial may be used, such as waxed paper or the like, which may or maynot be transparent.

In Figure 2 I have shown my X-ray film package somewhat expandedtransversely in order to illustrate the positions of the differentwrappings with respect to the film. It is to be understood that in myactual film package there is no appreciable space between the adjacentlayers, eX-

ycept where the spacing is provided by the frame member 3. As a resultmy nlm package is very thin, being no thicker than the ordinary X-rayfilm package such as is now in standard use for dental Work.

.As previously stated, it is one of the main objects of the presentinvention to provide a thin wafer-like film package which may be usedfor dental work and may be developed without resorting to a dark room,dark box, or the like. With my film package this may be accomplished inthe following manner. After the X-ray picture has been taken the outerWrapper 5 is removed leaving the inner wrapper 4 with its seal 1eintact. This package is then dropped into a receptacle containing thedeveloping solution and if left to remain there for a predeterminedperiod of time necessary for the reagents to react with the substancesprovided on the film. The wrapping 4 is intentionally made of bibulousmaterial in order that it may readily absorb moisture to provide auniform distribution of the reagents over the face of the film. I havefound that this bibulous material distributes the reagents uniformlyover the surface of the film and prevents the formation ofunderdeveloped or overdeveloped spots thereon. The pasteboard frame 3 isof a thickness a few times as great as the thickness of the filter paper4 and serves to space the edges of the paper from the film. Since thepaper 4 is drawn taut it will remain spaced from the film throughout thearea of the film until such time as it has become substantiallysaturated with the developing solution. In order to facilitate theaction of the developer solution upon the contents of the package I mayprovide one or more small holes, as indicated at i5, in the back of thepaper wrapping 4, that is, on the side of the wrapping adjacent the foil2. The hole 15 facilitates the escape of air from the package when thepackage is immersed in the developing solution.

After the film package has been in the developing solution the desiredlength of time it is removed therefrom with its wrapping 4 still inplace and is immersed in the fixing solution. After the film hasremained in the fixing solution the desired length of time it is removedtherefrom and then the wrapping 4 is taken off and the film Washed anddried.

The iilm of the present invention is developed in a standard manner, andwith standard reagents, the only difference being that here we aredeveloping a iilm while it is in its wrapped condition. Because the iilmis in its wrapped condition the developing can take place in opendaylight. If desired the wrapped film may be moistened by immersion inwater, before it is placed in the developer solution.

The entire wrapping 4 is of bibulous material although it is onlynecessary that the portion adjacent the sensitive face of the film be ofbibulous material. It is within the purview of the present invention touse an ordinary wrapping in place of the Wrapping 4 by placing a pieceof bibulous material upon the frame 3. In this event the provision ofholes such as the hole 15, on the front as well as on the rear of thewrapper is optional.

If desired the frame 3 may be replaced by four corners of a frame asindicated at 20-20 of Figure 7. Those four corners of a frame are placedupon the wrapping 4 and thereafter the film is placed upon those fourcorners with its sensitive side facing the wrapping 4. The package isthen completed in a manner previously set forth.

In Figure 3 I have shown still another arrangement for procuring aslight space between the bibulous material 4 and the sensitive side ofthe film. In this embodiment of my invention the lead foil is madeslightly larger than the film and the corners thereof are folded overthe sensitive side of the iilrn so as to form a frame around the film.This frame serves to space the wrapping 4 from the sensitive side of thefilm. The bent-over portion of the lead foil is indicated at 25. Thisportion may be around all four sides of the film or, if desired, may beonly along two opposite sides. In other respects the film package shownin Figure 3 is the same as that shown in Figure 2.

IIO

From the description thus far given it is apparent that I have provideda film package which is useful for dental work and which may bedeveloped in the open daylight. My film package is of wafer-like form,being no thicker or larger or heavier than the standard type of X- raydental film now in use.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have hereinshown and described a few preferred embodiments of my invention. It is,however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements herein shown, the same being merely illustrative ofthe principles of my invention. What I consider new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A lm package comprising a nat film, an enclosing wrapping of bibulousmaterial enveloping the same, and means at the edges of the film spacingthe bibulous material from the sensitive surface of the film to providean air pocket over substantially the entire surface of the film andextending from the film to the wrapping.

2. An X-ray iilm package comprising a flat ilm having an inner bibulouslight proef wrapping enveloping the same and secured in place to form anintegral package, and separate therefrom an outer transparent moistureproof wrapping.

3. A film package comprising a flat film, a foil backing, the edges ofthe backing being folded over the face of the film, and a covering ofbibulous material for the face of the lm, said covering being spacedfrom the lm at the edges by the foil folded thereover.

fi. An X-ray film package comprising a flat film, a proof backingtherefor, a light proof wrapping for the lm with its backing, saidwrapping being spaced from the edges or the lm and comprising a piece offilter paper, said light proof wrapping having an opening in the sidethereof adjacent the light proof backing, said package being flat and ofa Wafer form to permit insertion into the mouth.

5. An X-ray film package comprising a flat film, a light proof backingtherefor, a light proof wrapping for the film with its backing, saidwrapping being spaced from the edges of the film and comprising a pieceof filter paper, said light proof wrapping having an opening in the sidethereof adjacent the light proof backing, said package being flat and ofa wafer form to permit insertion into the mouth, and an outer waterproofwrapping to protect the filter paper from mouth moisture, said outerwrapping being removable without disturbing the light proof condition ofthe filter paper wrapping.

6. A rectangular X-ray dental film package comprising a flat film, alight proof backing therefore, a sealed light proof wrapping for the lmwith its backing, said Wrapping being spaced from the edges of the lm bya rectangular paper frame between the sensitive side of the lm and thewrapping, said wrapping comprising a piece of black, light proof filterpaper bibulous and highly pervious to moisture and having an opening inthe side thereof adjacent the light proof backing for facilitating theescape of air from the package when the package is immersed in a lmdeveloping solution, said package being flat and of wafer form to permitinsertion into the mouth for the taking of X-ray pictures of the teeth,and an outer independently sealed water proof Wrapping to protect thefilter paper from mouth moisture, said outer wrapping being removablewithout disturbing the light proof sealed condition of the inner filterpaper wrapping.

7. A light proof closed lm package having an X-ray film therein, and anouter moisture proof wrapping for the package, said wrapped packagebeing fiat and of wafer form to permit insertion into the mouth fortaking of X-ray pictures of the teeth, said outer moisture proofwrapping being removable to leave the first mentioned package as anintegral light proof closed package, at least one outer wall of saidfirst mentioned package comprising bibulous material whereby, uponimmersion of that package into a developing solution, liquid may enterthe package and come into contact with the film while the integrity ofthe package and the light proof condition thereof is maintained.

8. An X-ray film package comprising a hat fllm, a light proof backingtherefor, a light proof wrapping for the film with its backing, saidwrapping being spaced from the edges of the lni and comprising a pieceof filter paper, said package being flat and of a wafer form to permitinsertion into the mouth, and an cuter waterproof wrapping to protectthe filter paper from mouth moisture, said outer wrapping beingremovable without disturbing the light proof condition of the filterpaper wrapping.

9. An X-ray film package comprising a flat film, a light proof wrappingfor the film, said wrapping including a piece of iilter paper extendingover the sensitive surface of the film, said package being flat and of awafer form to permit insertion into the mouth, and an outer waterproofcovering over the filter paper to protect the filter paper from mouthmoisture, said outer covering being removable without disturbing thelight proof condition of the rst mentioned wrapping.

JACOB A. SAFFIR.

